B.C. Launches Program to Test
New Mining Technologies
B.C. is launching a new program aimed at accelerating the testing and deployment of technologies in the mining and critical minerals sector.

The initiative, part of the province's Integrated Marketplace program, is designed to help B.C. companies test, deploy and scale technologies in real-world environments while supporting commercialisation by linking technology providers with potential industrial buyers, according to the province. Read the BIV article.

From Critical Minerals to EVs: Canada-Korea MOU Aims to
Attract Investment and Build Supply Chain Resilience
As outlined in our 2025 Osler Legal Outlook article, the EV ecosystem in Canada has undergone a recalibration. While Canada's ambition of becoming a powerhouse in the global electric vehicle (EV) market and supply chain ecosystem has tempered, it remains intact. This point has been reinforced through the recently announced memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Canada and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) to strengthen bilateral cooperation in "future mobility."

The MOU establishes the Canada-Korea Industrial Cooperation Committee and focuses on growth in two closely related sectors. First, building up Canada's domestic EV manufacturing capabilities through collaboration with South Korean automotive companies. Second, reinforcing Canada's battery supply chain by attracting new investments in the areas of battery production and critical minerals processing. Through the collaboration anticipated to result from the MOU, Canada plans to grow its $16.8 billion automotive manufacturing sector and facilitate supply chain resilience for both Canada and South Korea. Read the full article by Michael Fekete, Hugo-Pierre Gagnon, Jesse Goldman and Kevin Li (Articling Student) with Osler.

B.C. to Speed Up Three Critical Mineral Projects
B.C. is adding three critical mineral projects to the Critical Minerals Office to help speed up assessment and permitting.

The projects are Northisle Copper and Gold Inc.'s North Island Project, Surge Copper Corp.'s Berg Project and Defense Metals Corp.'s Wicheeda Project, announced Jagrup Brar, B.C. minister of mining and critical minerals Friday, Feb. 20 in Port Hardy where the Northisle project is.

"These are promising projects that are in early development. Each one represents a huge potential investment in B.C., bringing hundreds of jobs and economic growth," Brar said.

The Northisle project is expected to create 498 full-time permanent jobs during the mine operation, while the other two mines are estimated to create about 200 full-time jobs during operation and 400 during the mine's life cycle, according to Brar. Read the BIV article.

Province Approves Copper Mountain Mine Expansion
Government has issued Mines Act and Environmental Management Act permits for the New Ingerbelle expansion at the Copper Mountain mine, an operating open-pit copper-gold mine located near Princeton.

The permits allow the mine to continue operations beyond 2040, supporting jobs and economic stability in the region. Read the BC government news release.

BC Energy Regulator Announcements
The following BC Energy Regulator announcement was posted recently:

• TU 2026-04 – Changes to Streamline Water Licence Withdrawal Volume Submissions
• TU 2026-05 – Water Diversions for Ice Road Construction Related to Restoration Activities Now Exempt from Water Sustainability Act Authorization Requirements

Visit the BC-ER website for more information.

Wuikinuxv Nation Sues B.C. Over Timber Licence
Extension Amid Final Treaty Talks
A B.C. First Nation in the final stages of treaty negotiation is suing the province for allegedly breaching the "honour of the Crown" after an official extended an expiring timber licence in its traditional territory.

Filed in a B.C. Supreme Court last week, the application for judicial review from Wuikinuxv Nation seeks to overturn an August 2025 decision from an official with the Ministry of Forests that gave Interfor Corp. (TSX:IFP) a three-year extension to log an estimated 50,000 cubic metres of timber.

After more than 30 years of treaty negotiations, the court application argues that allowing a third party to continue harvesting on the nation's lands – without their consent and against their environmental concerns – is a step backward that the law no longer allows. Read the BIV article.

Government of Canada Updates Prohibition of
Certain Toxic Substances Regulations
The Government of Canada has introduced new regulations aimed at further reducing the presence of certain toxic substances in the environment, reflecting the federal government's ongoing shift towards a more stringent, risk-based regulatory approach. The Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2025 (2025 Regulation), which will come into force on June 30, 2026, replaces the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances, 2012 (2012 Regulation), both made under the authority of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) The 2025 Regulation narrows several existing exemptions and introduces new restrictions on a range of substances.

Under the 2012 Regulations (and prior versions), the federal government prohibits the manufacture, use, sale and import of certain toxic substances, as well as products containing them, subject to limited exemptions. The substances captured under the 2012 Regulations have been declared toxic to the environment under CEPA. Read the full article by Humna Wasim, Lana Finney and Ryan McNamara with Blakes.

An Introduction to Cost Recovery
Claims in British Columbia
If you own, develop, or work on land in British Columbia, it's important to understand who is legally responsible for cleanup of contamination under the Environmental Management Act, S.B.C. 2003, c. 53 (EMA) and the Contaminated Sites Regulation B.C. Reg. 375/96 (CSR). These rules define who must pay to investigate and remediate contamination, how responsibility is allocated, and what exceptions might apply.

1. The Core Principle: Polluter Pays
At the heart of BC's contaminated sites regime is the "polluter-pays" principle. This means that, as a general rule, those who caused contamination should shoulder the cost of the remediation. If contamination is found on a property, the legislation looks to identify a "responsible person", which in simple terms means someone with a legal duty to pay for the remediation. Such "responsible persons" (if there are more than one) are absolutely, retroactively, jointly and separately liable for all reasonably incurred remediation costs.

Read the full article by Caryna Miller with Harper Grey LLP.

Improving B.C.'s Permitting Processes
Through Regulatory Changes
Four regulatory amendments will make it easier and more efficient for people and businesses to get the natural-resource permits needed to rebuild homes from wildfire, begin new home construction and restore ecosystems.

Changes to the Water Sustainability Regulation and the Riparian Areas Protection Regulation focus on improving clarity and supporting people and businesses to reduce project timelines. Read the government news release.

Making Freshwater Fishing Licences
Available Online in New System
For the first time, freshwater fishing licences and hunting licences are available through the same online system, fulfilling requests of the angling community for a streamlined system.

Recreational fishing licence pre-sales are available in the Wildlife Information and Licensing Data system (WILD) for the 2026–27 season, which starts April 1, 2026. WILD is government's online service that provides a secure way to buy freshwater fishing and hunting licences. Read the government news release.

Environmental Appeal Board Decisions
The following Environmental Appeal Board decisions were made recently:

Environmental Management Act

• Ktunaxa Nation Council Society v. Director, Environmental Management Act [Dismissal Order – Appeal Dismissed]
• Deep Water Recovery Ltd. v. Director, Environmental Management Act [Summary Dismissal Decision – Appeal Dismissed]
• Canadian Natural Resources Limited v. Director, Environmental Management Act [Consent Order – Stay Extended]

Water Sustainability Act

• Stanley Walt and Sandra Walt v. Water Manager [Dismissal Order – Appeal Dismissed]
• Southtrac Holdings Ltd. v. Assistant Water Manager [Dismissal Order – Appeal Dismissed]

Wildlife Act

• Nicholas Weigelt v. Regional Manager, Wildlife Branch Dismissal Order – Appeal Dismissed

Visit the Environmental Appeal Board website for more information.

Forest Appeals Commission Decisions
The following Forest Appeals Commission decision was made recently:

Forest and Range Practices Act

• Cassiar Forest Corp. v. Government of British Columbia [Settlement Order – Administrative Penalty Varied]

Visit the Forest Appeals Commission website for more information.

Expanding Cancer Coverage for Firefighters
Firefighters will have improved access to workers' compensation benefits and support services, in recognition of their higher risk of developing work-related cancers. "People in British Columbia count on firefighters in moments of crisis," said Premier David Eby. "Whether battling house fires or wildfires, or responding to traumatic events, firefighters go above and beyond. We're making sure they have support when they need it most." Eight additional cancers will be added to the list of diseases presumed to be linked to the work done by firefighters. The changes will make B.C. the province with the most comprehensive coverage of presumptive cancers in Canada, applying to more than 15,000 career, volunteer and federal firefighters, provincial wildfire fighters, fire investigators and firefighters employed by First Nations and Indigenous organizations in the province. Read the government news release.

WorkSafeBC Targets Musculoskeletal Injuries as
Claim Costs Skyrocket
Between 2020 and 2024, WorkSafeBC accepted more than 88,000 time‑loss claims for MSIs, representing about 30 per cent of all time‑loss claims in the province and more than a quarter of overall claim costs. Over that period, MSI claim costs exceeded $2.35 billion.

Complex injuries driving higher costs
The overall number of MSI claims has been relatively steady, but the financial impact is growing, said Sandeep Mangat, prevention field services manager at WorkSafeBC. MSIs can involve multiple body systems and often become chronic, leading to prolonged recovery times and higher claim costs.

Read the full article by Shane Mercer with Canadian Occupational Safety.

WorkSafeBC's Average Base Premium Rate Unchanged in 2026
In 2026, WorkSafeBC is returning an estimated $570 million of surplus funds to employers by pricing premium rates below system costs. BC employers will see no change to the average base premium rate from WorkSafeBC in 2026. For the ninth consecutive year, WorkSafeBC has set the average base rate at $1.55 per $100 of assessable payroll. Each year, the costs in some industries go up, some go down, and others stay the same. In 2026, 39% percent of employers in BC will experience a decrease in their industry base rate, 47% will see their industry base rate increase, and 14% will see no change. Read the full article published in the March 2026 Forest Safety Newsletter.

Climate, Heat and Work: What Canada's New
Thermal Stress Rules Mean for HR
Canada's new thermal stress rules are arriving as climate change makes heat and cold a daily operational concern in many workplaces, from warehouses and postal routes to commercial kitchens and transit yards. The Canada Labour Code amendments, updated on Feb. 12, 2026, set out detailed expectations under Part X of the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (COHSR), including the use of ACGIH Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for heat and cold, monitoring tools like humidex and wind chill, and specific requirements for training, reporting and controls under Part II of the Code. Read the full article by Stacy Thomas with Canadian HRReporter. [Note: the Feb. 12 amendments were to the "Thermal Stress in the Work Place" guidelines.]

Better Crane Safety Protections
Coming for Workers
The Province is taking action to strengthen protections for workers and enhance crane safety with legislation enabling a new WorkSafeBC crane licensing and permitting program. "Major nation-building projects are moving forward in B.C. and the people who build them must have the best level of safety we can provide," said Premier David Eby. "British Columbia will be a leader in crane safety – with the highest standards of training, certification, technology and oversight – to protect workers and the public on every project, every time." Read the government news release.

OHS Policies/Guidelines – Updates
Guidelines – Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
February 12, 2026
Editorial revisions were made to the following guideline on February 12, 2026:

• Part 11 – Fall Protection
  G11.5-4 Equipment standards – Prusik sling

Policies – Workers Compensation Act
March 2, 2026
The following policy was updated as a result of changing the term "Personal Optional Protection" to "Personal Coverage" throughout WorkSafeBC's policy manuals. This change is effective March 2, 2026:

• P2-21-1 Employer Duty Towards Other Workers

Visit the WorkSafeBC website to explore this and previous updates.